Cap discharge device



P 1952 R. M. MIKOLAY 2,611,999

CAP DISCHARGE DEVICE Filed Jan. 16, 1950 A Milk /fi lNV ENTOR I RAYMONDM. MIKOLAY Ema/2M AGENT Patented Sept; 30, 1952 OAK DISCHARGE DEVICE Raymond M. Mikolay, Chicago, IlL, assignor to v Tybond Tool Engineering flompany, a corpo-' ration of Illinois Application January 16,1950, Serial No. 138,778

This invention relates to a toy noise creatin device, particularly to a device for safely discharging noisemaking caps of the type usually used in toy cap pistols.

Prior art explosive type noise making. toys designed to attract children are all too often of a type too dangerous for operation by children without close adult surveillance. Many of the safer types are often not sufficiently attractive to maintain a childs interest or are too complicated for children to operate, thus causing them to turn I to the more dangerous types.

In view of the foregoing conditions, it is a principal object of this invention to provide a toy noise creating device which is absolutely safe to operate, easily loaded and at the same time attractive in appearance.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a novel cap discharge device in which the discharge action is not performed directly in the hands of the operator. I

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a novel cap discharge device which will discharge only upon impact with a hard surface, thus preventing it from discharging if a person is hit accidentally. g

An additional object is to provide a toy cap discharge device which can be discharged at a point remote from the operator.

The novel features which I believe to be characteristic of my inventionare set forth with particularity in the appended claims. My invention, however, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in

which: 1

Figure l is a perspective view of a rocket or bomb shaped cap discharge device embodying the principles of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a partial side view of the device showing the manner in which a cap is loaded therein;

Figure 3 is a cross-section of the device taken on line 33 of Figure 2.

' Figure 4 is a top plan view of the nose-piece of the device;

Figure 5 is a cross sectional elevation View of the nose-piece as taken on line 55 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a top plan view of the center-piece; and

Figure '7 is a cross sectional view of the centerpiece as taken on line 1-1 of Figure 6.

In greater detail the figures illustrate a minia- 6 Claims. (01. 46-4200) impact to discharge the cap. I

however, is not subjected to as much direct stress,

a 2 13 ture bomb-shaped toy which includesthree principal parts, namely; an impact head or nosepiece It], a center-piece II and a tail-pieceJZ;

All are of such shape that they can be readily molded of plastic material of a-ty'pe whichcan Withstand a great deal of rug ed handling. The nose-piece and center-piece are preferably of hard material such as Bakelite because it is between abutting fiat surfaces'of these. :elements that the cap discharge actiontakes place and because the nose-piece must withstanda'direct "IF-he tail-piece,

and therefore may be of softer-.materialisuch as polyethylene or Vinylite. r

slightly greater than the width of cape-crane type to be loaded in the device. These wire. legs are parts of a U-shaped stapl 20 having 1 its bridge portions 2| embedded in the nose material durin'g'the molding process. The wire legs-thus arranged provide means for establishing a 're'sili ent assembly relationship between the noseand center pieces as will be explained. V I

As Shown in Figures 6 and 7,- the center-piece l 8 comprises in general a flat circular slug or disk 22 having an elongated plug or core portion 23 of relatively small diameter extending from the center of a fiat. surface 24 thereof. A pair of generally rectangular wings 25 projecting op positely from the plug portion 23 have a length'approximately half that of the core. They; extend upwardly from the fiat surface of the disk and outwardly to within a short distance of its edge, but not completely across its diameter. A pair of spaced apertures 26- a sufiicient distance apart and of a size to accommodate the'wire legs [3 and I9, are provided on diametricallly opposite sides of the plug portion 23 in alignment at right resilient relation, the wire leg members It and I9 are inserted in the apertures 26 until the flat surface [3 of the nose-piece abuts the table surface M of the center-piece. A pair of hooks 23 are then formed at the ends of the wire members. A resilient rubber-band 29 preferably having a normal inside diameter equal to the diameter of the plug portion 23, is slipped thereover to a point just above the wing projections 25. The hooks 28 are formed on the wire leg members at a level slightly below the top of the wing projections so that the rubber-band 29 may be looped through each of such hooks to establish a resilient securingrelation between the nose and center pieces. Thus, when a force is exerted to separate these two parts, the rubber-band acts to-draw them together into a normal abutting relation. This particular arrangement of assembling the nose and centerpieces has the feature of fixed radial positioningand' in addition producesa force acting to draw the noseand center pieces together in. such a way as to-assure good? contact overthe entire area of the abutting surfaces.

The tail-piece of the device includesia circular cup-like housing portion 30. atthe forward end which gradually decreases in, size to a point whereit 'joinsa, shaft-like extension-.31 of relatively'small diameter-at the rear of: the tail-piece l2; Four. tailfins'33. arranged in. quadrature relation are'molded directlyon the shaft 3 I, Each fin 33 is a right triangle in.shap.e having a relatively thin: cross-section and; is. joined. to the shaft-like. extension. 3.1 along? the edge defining the longer leg of the triangle.

' The-inner diameter of. the forward: part of-j the cup-like: housing: is. such that the disk 2-2. of the; center-piece l'l fits-snugly thereinwhile the outer, diameter of the extreme forward end has thesamediameter as the cylindrical; rearwardly extending portion. iii of; the nose-piece. The depth. of: thecup-like portion 30is just sufiicient to: permit seating of the upper surfaces of. the projecting win s 25. on the bottom cup surface when. the disk 22 is pushed approximately'half way within the cup-like portion. A bore 3.4 is provided inthe bottomof the'cup-like portion 30 to accommodate the plug 2-3of thecenter-piece in-press-fit relation. The-top edge of the bore-.is

beveled to. enableguiding of the'pluginto the bore during assembly operations. This beveled edge of, the bore also provides a, space within which portions ofthe rubber-bandv 29 may be; disposed without being crimpedwhen the center-piece H is inserted to its extremedepthin the bottom of the cuplike. housing 30. To. further facilitate insertion of, theplug 23. within. the. bore. 3.4, the endof; the plug is. also beveled. toguideitto; the center of thebore.

Inloading the present. device, the noseepiece l0 is-withdrawn to the full extent allowed by the lengthofthe wire leg members.- l8 and I9, thatis, it.-iswithdrawn until. the hooks, 28 hit thedisk 22. Acap L6 is then insertedbetween, the nose-piece surface l3 and the fiatisurface. IA of. the disk. The. cap is aligned centrally between. the. wire legsv l8 and IQ of thestaple- 20, whereuponthe nose-piecel0- is released to clampv and substantially, surround thecap I6 for discharge.

To discharge thecap', the device is throwninto the-airin alocation whereit. can drop to a hard surface. Because. of the. particular. design. illus. trated; the. nose-piece of? the device normally takes the lead in its path of travel and causes the tip to take the full impact of the drop when it hits the hard surface. The force of impact naturally is transmitted to the cap in effect like a hammer blow, and is effective in discharging the explosive matter contained therein with a loud report. Scrap particles of the discharged cap are removed merely by letting them drop away during reloading operations when the head and center piecesare again separated.

Although a preferable form for establishing a resilient assembly relation between the nose and center pieces has been described herein, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that the resilient association also may be obtained by modification of' such details. For example, the

- wire members presently extending from the nosepiece might be molded into the center-piece and resiliently engaged by a rubber-band mounted on the nose-piece, or notches might be placed on the core of the tail-piece instead of using wings for engagement of the rubber-band. The rubber-bandtmay also; be. replacedby spring means for: establishing the. resilient relation.

While: I have shown. a particular embodiment of my invention, it will, of course, be understood that I do not; wish to be. limited thereto since many modifications, both in the elements employed and their. cooperative structure, may be madecviithdut departing from the spirit and scope of myinvention. I. contemplate, by the appended claims. to. cover any such modifications as fall within the true spirit andscope of my invention.

I claim as my invention:

1.. A can discharge device; comprising an impact head. of generally hemispherical shape, a center-piece: comprising,- a. disk havin a plug portion. extending from one of its flat surfaces, a pair of flat surfaces on said impact head and center-piece disposed. in abutting relation, a hook member extending. from the fiat surface of said head, said hook member extending through said disk portion, and slightly beyond said one surface, aresilient connecting member positioned on said plug portion and engaging said hook member-todraw said headand center pieces together in separable: relation at. their. abutting surfaces between which a cap may be inserted, a tailpiececomprising; a cup-like: housing portion and a fin typetailportion, said housing portion having an outer diameter equal to that of said impact. head and. an inner diameter equal to the diameter of: said: disk to permit a snug fit of said disk. therein for. at least. part of its thickness, said housing; portion also having a bore in the. bottom thereof to accommodate the plug portionxof. said center-piece inpress fit relation, thereby-td-securely hold the elements of said devicein assembledrelation.

2. A cap discharge device comprising an impacthead, a center-piece comprising a disk having a plug portion extending from one of its flat surfaces, apair 0f;' fiat surfaces on said head and center-piece, disposed in. abutting'relation, a pair of, spaced.- parallel leg; members extending perpendicularly from the fiat surface of said head, a. connecting, member onsaid center-piece resiliently engaging said leg members to separably draw saidhead and center pieces together at their abuttin surfaces to permit acap to be insertedand'; clamped. therebetween, a tail-piece comprising-:acup-like housing portionand a fin typejtaihportion; said housing portion having dimensions permitting a snug accommodation of at leasta; portionof; said: disk, said center-piece plug portionbeing' accommodated in press fit relation in abore' provided in said housing. portion thereby to securely hold the elements of said device in assembled relation.

3. A cap discharge device comprising an impact head having a fiat surface portion, a centerpiece having a flat surface on one side matching that on said impact head and a projecting portion on the opposite side thereof, the flat surfaceson said head and center-piece being disposed in abutting relation, at least a pair of spaced leg members fixed with and extending from said head, a connecting member associated with the projecting portion of said center-piece resiliently engaging said leg members to separably draw said head and center pieces together at their abutting surfaces to permit a cap to be inserted and clamped therebetween, and a tailpiece fixedly secured to said center-piece comprising a cup-like housing portion and a fin type tail portion, said housing portion enclosin the raised portion of said center-piece as well as said connecting member and the portions of said legs engaged thereby, while said tail portion is arranged to cause the head of said device to take the lead in the path of travel when said device is thrown into space.

4. A cap discharge device comprising an impact head, a center-piece having a raised portion on one side thereof, a pair of flat surfaces on said head and center-piece disposed in abutting relation, 2, pair of spaced parallel leg members extending perpendicularly from the flat surface of said head, a pair of apertures in said centerpiece corresponding to said leg members and through which said leg members extend, the raised portion on said center-piece lying between said leg members, a resilient band type connecting member extending across said raised portion and engaging said leg members to separably draw said head and center pieces together at their abutting surfaces to permit a cap to be inserted and clamped therebetween, and a tail-piece fixedly secured to said center-piece comprising a cup-like housing portion and a fin type tail portion, said housing portion enclosing the raised portion of said center-piece as well as said connecting member and the portions of said legs engaged thereby, while said tail portion is arranged to caus the head of said device to take the lead in the path of travel when said device is thrown into space.

5. A cap discharge device comprising an impact head, a center-piece, said impact head and center-piece each having a fiat-surface portion disposed to permit establishment of an abutting relation at said surfaces, a pair of spaced leg members fixed with and extending from said impact head, a pair of apertures in said centerpiece corresponding to said leg members and through which said leg members extend, said 6 center-piece having a portion disposed between said legs and projecting in a direction away from said impact head, said portion projecting a distance at least as far as to the ends ofsaid legs under the condition of said impact head and center-piece being in abutting relation,'a connecting member comprising an elastic band extending across the end of said projecting portion and securingly engaging said leg members to hold said head and center-piece together in resiliently separable relation, thereby adapting said head and center-piece to receive and clamp a percussion cap between their abutting surfaces, and a tail-piece secured to said center-piece having a housing portion enclosing the projecting portion of said center-piece as well as the elastic band and the portions of said legs engagedthereby.

6. A cap discharge device comprising an im-- pact head, a center-piece, said impact head and center-piece each having a fiat-surface portion disposed to permit establishment of an abutting relation at said surfaces, a pair of spaced leg members fixed with and extending from said impact head, each of said leg members having a hook formed generally at the end thereof, .a pair of apertures in said center-piece corresponding to said leg members and through which said leg members extend, said center-piece having a portion disposed between said legs and projecting in a direction away from said impact head, said portion projecting a distance at least as far as to the ends of said legs under the condition of said impact head and center-piece being in abutting elastic band extending across the end of said projecting portion and securingly engaging the hooks of said leg members to hold said head and center-piece together in resiliently separable relation, thereby adapting said head and centerpiece to. receive and clamp a percussion cap between their abutting surfaces, and a tail-piece secured to said center-piece having a housing portion enclosing the projecting portion of said center-piece as well as the elastic band and the portions of said legs engaged thereby.

RAYMOND M. MIKOLAY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 306,559 Vandercook Oct. 14, 1884 1,536,261 Eames May 5, 1925 2,183,152 Prensky et a1. Dec. 12, 1939 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 6 63 Great Britain an. Aug, 4, 1937 

